At the end of the 19th century, German historical scholarship had grown to great prominence. Academics around the world imitated their German colleagues. Intellectuals described historical scholarship as a foundation of the modern worldview. To many, the modern age was an 'age of history'. This book investigates how German historical scholarship acquired this status. Modern Historiography in the Making begins with the early Enlightenment, when scholars embraced the study of the past as a modernizing project, undermining dogmatic systems of belief and promoting progressive ideals, such a tolerance, open mindedness and reform-readiness. Kasper Risbjerg Eskildsen looks at how this modernizing project remained an important motivation and justification for historical scholarship until the 20th century. Eskildsen successfully argues that German historical scholarship was not, as we have been told since the early 20th century, a product of historicism, but rather of Enlightenment ideals. The book offers this radical revision of the history of scholarship by focusing on practices of research and education. It examines how scholars worked and why they cared. It shows how their efforts forever changed our relationship not only to the past, but also to the world we live in.

Rushton Dorman was a book collector who lived in Chicago; his 4,000- volume library was sold at auction in New York in 1886. Rogal (emeritus, humanities and fine arts, Illinois Valley Community College) presents the text of the sale catalog, whose fine and thorough descriptions--apparently written by bookseller Charles Sotheran--he has annotated with historic details. (The unfortunate, squinty sans-serif typeface, however, makes the reference less of a joy to read.) Vol. 2 covers the final four sessions of the eight-session sale: Americana; ethnology; philosophy; Oriental literature; Greek and Latin; European mythology; Hebrew and Christian theology; occultism; chivalry and heraldry; poetry, drama, and music; European history and biography; and miscellaneous literature. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR